Snow and ice track clearer for ground effect machines

ABSTRACT

Arrangement for clearing snow and ice clad tracks in particular for ground effect machines. An arrangement for vehicles such as ground effect machines running along a carrying and guiding track, wherein a turbomachine carried by or incorporated with the vehicle feeds through a tapping on the turbine or on the associated compressor a hot fluid at a comparatively high pressure into nozzles adjacent the track surface and facing forwardly so as to undermine, release and blow away the ice and snow on the track. Further nozzles may be directed away from the track and towards the walls confining the fluid cushions sustaining and guiding the vehicle.

finite tates atent Bertin 1 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [5 1 SNOW AND ICE TRACK CLEARER 3,136,488 6/1964 Petlak et a1 .293/502 FOR GROUND EFFECT MACHINES 3,099,097 7 1963 Simmons ..37 19 3,041,748 7/1962 Wetzel ..37/19 1 1 Inventofl Jean Henri Berti", 92 y- 2,802,286 8/1957 Wylie ..37 19 Seine, France [73] Assignee: Bertin.& Cie, Plaisir, France 'f' Exami' 'er Dmytn Hoffman Asslstant Exammer-Robert Sarfer Filed: June 30, 1970 Att0rney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 21 A 1. N 51 263 I 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT Arrangement for clearing snow and ice clad tracks in A D [30] Foreign pphcauon Pnorny am particular for ground effect machines.

July 1,1969 France ..6922116 An arrangement for vehicles Such as ground effect 52 us. c1 ..104/279, 126/271.2 R, 37/19 l a "Y and P [51] 1.11. CI. ..B61119/00 1 3 grfi -g urged by "f g 58 Field ofSearch.l04/279; 126/2712 A, 271.2 c, t f e a appmg 126/271 2 37/ b1ne or on the assoc1ated compressor a hot flu1d at a comparatively high pressure into nozzles adjacent the track surface and facing forwardly so as to undermine, [56] References cued release and blow away the ice and snow on the track. UNITED STATES PATENTS Further nozzles may be directed away from the track and towards the walls confinmg the flu1d cush1ons 3,417,709 12/1968 Bertin et a1 ..104/23 FS sustaining and guidin the vehicle. 3,199,506 8/1965 Bertin et a1. .126/271.2 C g 3,359,969 12/1967 Bertin et al ..126/27l.2 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 23 I973 SHEET 1 [IF 2 QQQQ QUE

PATENTEU JAN 23 I973 SHEET 2 OF 2 SNOW AND ICE TRACK CLEARER FOR GROUND EFFECT MACHINES In the French Pat. No. l 585 893 to Bertin & Cie., there is described an apparatus for clearing a snow and ice-clad track adapted to guide and support a movable part such as a ground effect machine or air cushion vehicle, which track includes for this purpose carrier surfaces and guiding surfaces forming with each other a dihedral. The apparatus disclosed in said prior specification is provided with a supply of compressed fluid carried by a machine designed for running along said track and with means for projecting said fluid to the front of said machine.

In the embodiment disclosed in the above-mentioned specification, the machine carrying the clearing means is constituted actually as a ground effect machine and the supply of compressed fluid is constituted by the exhaust of a turbo-machine adapted to also drive other parts such for instance, as the fans feeding fluid to the machine-sustaining cushions. The pressure of the hot fluid passing out of the turbo-machine is in certain cases unsufficient so that it is sometimes necessary to compress it again before it is ejected at the front of the machine before it is blown onto the snow or ice.

The present invention has for its object further embodiments of the apparatus disclosed in the abovementioned prior Specification in which embodiments the supply of compressed fluid provides a fluid under suitable pressure and temperature conditions while the fluid-projecting means match the shape of the track so as to exert a highly efficient clearing action.

According to the present invention, the clearing fluid is tapped off the output of the compressor of a turbomachine or from an intermediate stage of said compressor. The turbo-machine may as in said prior specification fulfil other purposes; for instance, it may propel .the machine or again in the case of a ground effect machine it may feed fluid into the machine-sustaining and guiding air cushions.

According to the invention, the fluid projecting means are constituted by at least one hollow member positioned to the front of the machine, connected with the supply of compressed fluid and associated with at least one of said machine-guiding and sustaining surfaces, at least the front end of said member being located in the vicinity of said surfaces while it matches the shape of the latter and is provided with fluid ejecting ports.

Two hollow fluid projecting members associated with corresponding sustaining and guiding surfaces forming a dihedral with each other may be pivotally secured to a shaft rigid with the machine while means are provided for elastically returning said hollow members towards said associated surfaces. Lastly, it is possible in the case of a ground effect machine to send the hot fluid escaping from the exhaust of the turbomachine or a fraction of the fluid tapped off the delivery end of the compressor feeding the turbomachine into the interval between the machine and the track in the vicinity of the walls confining the cushions of compressed fluid of the machine in order to cut out the detrimental effects of the frost formed on the track and on the walls confining the cushions.

The following description and accompanying drawings are given by way of example and in a nonlimiting sense so as to allow a proper understanding of the invention. In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly torn off, of a ground effect machine including track-clearing means executed in conformity with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view partly torn off of the same machine FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating the means for tapping the fluid off the delivery end of the compressor of a turbo-machine carried by the ground effect machine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the arrangement projecting the fluid onto the track and adapted to be secured to the front of the ground effect machine.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view along line V- V of FIG. 4

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a modified embodiment of the fluid projecting arrangement.

FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of a cushion of compressed fluid provided for the ground effect machine and associated with means adapted to project hot fluid between the machine and the track.

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is apparent that the ground effect machine 1 cooperates through the agency of the compressed fluid cushion 3 with a track 2 which latter is in the shape of an inverted T and includes two carrier sections 2a and a medial upright guiding section 2b.

The machine is propelled by a propeller 4 housed inside a fairing 4a and driven into rotation by two turbomachines 5 through the agency of the shafts 6a and of coupling and speed-reducing means 6. The ground effect machine 1 is provided with an input 7 for external fluid adapted to feed the turbo-machines 5 while the exhaust of the latter is ensured through two channels 8 opening to the rear of the machine in a direction opposed to the progression of the latter illustrated by the arrow F.

The cushions 3 are fed with compressed fluid passing out of two channels 9 located to either side of the medial vertical longitudinal plane of the machine. Each channel 9 is provided at its front end with a dynamic input 9a for the external fluid, said input being associated with a fan 10.

The fans 10 are driven by a turbo-machine 11 through the agency of coupling and speed-reducing means 12. The input of said turbo machine is connected with the dynamic inputs 9aby means of channels 13 while the exhaust of the turbo-machine opens into a channel 14.

To the front of the machine there are secured to either side of the upright guiding web 2-b two clearingpressor 17 through the agency of the shaft 19. The fans 10 are driven by said shaft 19 in the manner already referred to. The direction of progression of the fluid is illustrated by the arrows 20' of FIG. 3. Passageways 21 opening into the delivery end of the compressor 17 are formed in the wall 1 1a and are associated with an annular collector 22 connected with a further channel 23. The latter is provided with a valve 24 controlled through the agency of a link system 26 by a handle 25 located for instance within the pilots cab. The channel 23 feeds under the control of said valve 24 the channels 16 with hot compressed fluid, which channels feed the cleaning structures.

In order to control the operation of the cleaning structure 15, it is sufficient to act on the control handle 25 so as to open the flap valve 24. The tapping of fluid off the delivery end of the compressor 17 allows a sufficient pressure to be obtained for clearing purposes.

Of course the compressed fluid may be tapped off an intermediate stage of the compressor or else in the case of a turbo-machine provided with a plurality of compressors operating in series or in parallel, it may be tapped off the delivery end of one of said compressors. On the other hand, it is possible in a similar manner to connect the channels 16 with the delivery end of the compressors of the propelling turbo machines through the agency of pressure tappings 220 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Turning to FIGS. 4 and 5, said figures show the clearing structure cooperating with one of the carrier sections 2a of the track and with the corresponding surface of the guiding upright section 2b.

Said structure includes a frame 27 secured to the machine and carrying a shaft 29 held fast also by arms 28 forming an extension of said frame 27. The shaft 29 slopes towards the carrier section 2a and towards the guiding upright section 2b in a manner such that its end facing the machine lies at a distance from said carrier and guiding sections and registers substantially with the outer edges of said sections while its other end is located in the vicinity of the ridge of the dihedral defined by the carrier section 2a and the guiding upright section 2b. Two hollow fluid projecting members 31a and 31b of a generally flat substantially triangular shape cooperate respectively with the carrier section 2a and with the guiding upright section 2b of the track and are pivotally secured through their sides 31 1a and 31lb to the shaft 29 for instance by means of hinges 32. The front edges 310a, 31% of said members 31a, 31b forming the second sides of the triangles are located in the vicinity of the track surfaces 2a, 2b and are substantially parallel with the latter. The lateral edges 312a, 31'2b of said members forming the last sides of the triangles slope respectively with reference to the cooperating track surfaces 2a and 2b and their projections on said associated surfaces are adjacent the outer edges of the latter. The forward edges 310a, 31% of the hollow members are provided, facing the outer edges of the surfaces 2a, 2b with rollers 33a, 33b and facing the ridge of the dihedral formed by said surfaces with shoes 34a, 34b. The two hollow members 31a, 31b are urged towards the associated track surfaces 2a, 2b by elastic means 35a, 35b such as springs. Damping members may also be provided. A hood or cover 36 secured to the edge 3l2b of the member 31b extends above the member 31a in a direction substantially parallel with the track surface 2a. The hollow members 31a and 31b are fed with compressed fluid passing out of the channels 16a, 16b fed in parallel by the corresponding channel 16. The compressed fluid is ejected to the front of the members 31 towards the track surfaces 2a and 2b so as to form jets passing through slots 37 provided in the edges 310a, 3l0bof said members. A row of ports 38 formed in the surfaces of the members 31a, 31b which face away from the track surfaces 2a and 2b is also provided.

During operation, the jets of hot compressed fluid delivered through the slot 37 undermine the ice or snow lying onthe track so as to release and blow away said snow and ice. The snow and ice are then urged away from the track by the deflectors constituted by said members 31a and 31b. The jets of fluid passing out of the ports 38 further the removal of the snow and ice towards the sides of the track.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the hollow members 31 may be provided along their forward edges 310a, 3101) with a plurality of nozzles 40 of a substantially circular cross-section; on the other hand, the members are rigid on their surfaces facing away from the track section surfaces with which they cooperate with ribs 41 also provided with nozzles 42. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the hinge 32 is protected by a yielding cover 43. Such an embodiment is particularly suitable for the cases where the amount of ice or snow lying on the track is large and compact. The nozzles in the ribs 41 allow the mass of ice or snow to be subdivided easily while the nozzles 40 release said mass and blow it away.

In the embodiments disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 the structures 15 are removable and suitable for incorporation with a ground effect machinev Of course, they may form an integral part of an actual ground effect machine.

Turning to FIG. 7, it shows a cushion 3 formed on a ground effect machine and cooperating with the track surface 2. Said cushion 3 is confined by walls extending up to a line in the vicinity of the carrier surface of the track 2 and secured to a terminal surface 1a forming part of the structure of the machine. The cushion 3 is fed with compressed fluid through the channel 55. A channel 52 associated with a slot 53 formed in the surface 1a and opening at a point in the vicinity of the walls 50 on the outside of the cushion 3 is fed with hot compressed fluid by a channel 51 A shaped member 54 is provided so as to guide the jets of fluid passing out of said slot 53 towards the walls 50 and track 2. The channel 51 may also feed the actual cushion 3 with hot fluid through a channel 56 as illustrated in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 7. The channel 51 is connected with the exhaust 14 of the turbo-machine 11 or with the exhaust ports or channels 8 of the turbomachines 5. It is also possibleto connect said channel 51 with the delivery end of the compressor of the turbo-machine 11 or 5 that is with the channels 22 or This arrangement provides for the constant presence, between the ground effect machine and the track of masses of hot fluid ensuring the proper operation of the parts of the machine which might otherwise be disturbed by the .frost. In particular when the machine has stopped for some time the formation of glazed frost on the track and on the machine may lead to a rigid joining of the confining wall 50 enclosing a fluid cushion with the track. The arrangement disclosed removes the glazed frost speedily off the track and the confining walls 50 Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed with particular detail and it covers also all the embodiments incorporating equivalent technical means and falling within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a movable machine supported and guided on dihedral track surfaces exposed to snow and ice, a snow and ice clearing system comprising a prime mover with a source of pressure fluid,

means for tapping pressure fluid from said source,

a pressuire fluid manifold structure connected with said tapping means and extending to the front of said machine with respect to the direction of motion thereof, said manifold structure comprising outer longitudinal ribs integral therewith and projecting from a side thereof facing away from said dihedral track surfaces, and further nozzle means formed in said ribs and opening at a front end thereof, said further nozzle means being supplied with pressure fluid from said manifold structure, and

forwardly directed linearly arranged nozzle means on said manifold structure, extending adjacent and generally parallel to said dihedral track surfaces and supplied with pressure fluid from said manifold to project a thin sheet-like jet generally conforming to said dihedral track surfaces and exerting thereon a snow and ice scraping effect.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said manifold structure comprises bearing means fitted adjacent said front end thereof and engaging said dihedral track surfaces.

3. In a movable machine supported and guided on dihedral track surfaces exposed to snow and ice, a snow and ice clearing system comprising a prime mover with a source of pressure fluid,

means for tapping pressure fluid from said source,

a pressure fluid manifold structure connected with said tapping means and extending to the front of said machine with respect to the direction of motion thereof, said manifold structures comprising bearing means fitted adjacent the front end thereof and engaging said dihedral track surfaces, and

forwardly directed linearly arranged nozzle means on said manifold structure, extending adjacent and generally parallel to said dihedral track surfaces and supplied with pressure fluid from said manifold to project a thin sheet-like jet generally conforming to said dihedral track surfaces and exerting thereon a snow and ice scraping effect.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said manifold structure comprises further nozzle means opening on a side thereof facing away from said dihedral track surfaces and supplied with pressure fluid from said manifold structure.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said prime mover comprises a gas-turbine unit incorporating a gas turbine and an air compressor driven thereby, said source of pressure fluid being said compressor and said pressure fluid being tapped upstream of said gas turbine.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, comprising pressure fluid cushions formed against said track, and a fan discharging pressure fluid into said cushions, said fan being separate from said compressor while emg likewise driven from said gas turbine.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising piping means for tapping hot exhaust gas from said gas turbine and delivering the same in the region of said cushions.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said manifold structure comprises two generally planar sections at an angle with each other and ending forwardly with leading edges along which said nozzle means extend, means for hinging said sections to each other, and resilient means for urging each of said hinged sections towards a respective track surface.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the axis of said hinging means is inclined with respect to both dihedral track surfaces, said hinging means having a front end adjacent the corner of said dihedral track surfaces and a rear end remote from both said surfaces.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said manifold structure comprises two generally planar sections at an angle with each other and ending forwardly with leading edges along which said nozzle means extend, namely a substantially horizontal section and a substantially vertical section ending with an upper edge, and a hood element integral with said vertical section and extending substantially horizontally from said upper edge over said-horizontal section. 

1. In a movable machine supported and guided on dihedral track surfaces exposed to snow and ice, a snow and ice clearing system comprising a prime mover with a source of pressure fluid, means for tapping pressure fluid from said source, a pressuire fluid manifold structure connected with said tapping means and extending to the front of said machine with respect to the direction of motion thereof, said manifold structure comprising outer longitudinal ribs integral therewith and projecting from a side thereof facing away from said dihedral track surfaces, and further nozzle means formed in said ribs and opening at a front end thereof, said further nozzle means being supplied with pRessure fluid from said manifold structure, and forwardly directed linearly arranged nozzle means on said manifold structure, extending adjacent and generally parallel to said dihedral track surfaces and supplied with pressure fluid from said manifold to project a thin sheet-like jet generally conforming to said dihedral track surfaces and exerting thereon a snow and ice scraping effect.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said manifold structure comprises bearing means fitted adjacent said front end thereof and engaging said dihedral track surfaces.
 3. In a movable machine supported and guided on dihedral track surfaces exposed to snow and ice, a snow and ice clearing system comprising a prime mover with a source of pressure fluid, means for tapping pressure fluid from said source, a pressure fluid manifold structure connected with said tapping means and extending to the front of said machine with respect to the direction of motion thereof, said manifold structures comprising bearing means fitted adjacent the front end thereof and engaging said dihedral track surfaces, and forwardly directed linearly arranged nozzle means on said manifold structure, extending adjacent and generally parallel to said dihedral track surfaces and supplied with pressure fluid from said manifold to project a thin sheet-like jet generally conforming to said dihedral track surfaces and exerting thereon a snow and ice scraping effect.
 4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said manifold structure comprises further nozzle means opening on a side thereof facing away from said dihedral track surfaces and supplied with pressure fluid from said manifold structure.
 5. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said prime mover comprises a gas-turbine unit incorporating a gas turbine and an air compressor driven thereby, said source of pressure fluid being said compressor and said pressure fluid being tapped upstream of said gas turbine.
 6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, comprising pressure fluid cushions formed against said track, and a fan discharging pressure fluid into said cushions, said fan being separate from said compressor while being likewise driven from said gas turbine.
 7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising piping means for tapping hot exhaust gas from said gas turbine and delivering the same in the region of said cushions.
 8. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said manifold structure comprises two generally planar sections at an angle with each other and ending forwardly with leading edges along which said nozzle means extend, means for hinging said sections to each other, and resilient means for urging each of said hinged sections towards a respective track surface.
 9. A machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the axis of said hinging means is inclined with respect to both dihedral track surfaces, said hinging means having a front end adjacent the corner of said dihedral track surfaces and a rear end remote from both said surfaces.
 10. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said manifold structure comprises two generally planar sections at an angle with each other and ending forwardly with leading edges along which said nozzle means extend, namely a substantially horizontal section and a substantially vertical section ending with an upper edge, and a hood element integral with said vertical section and extending substantially horizontally from said upper edge over said horizontal section. 